Softball Silences Eastern Nazarene

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) blasted her first home run of the season in game one before striking out eight batters in the circle in game two as the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (6-8) shut down the Eastern Nazarene Lions (5-11) in non-conference action Friday afternoon.

GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 7, EASTERN NAZARENE 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth took advantage of an early on-base as sophomore Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) doubled on the second at-bat of the game to bring home the ice-breaking run. Later in the inning, Rowe sent a single to the outfield, driving home Igawa to put the hosts ahead 2-0.
• The Leopards doubled their lead in the second as a single by graduate student Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) brought home an initial score before another hit, a single, by Igawa drove home Pettenger, marking a 4-0 advantage.
• With the bases loaded in the third inning, a single by junior Katelin Howe (Bow, N.H.) brought home the first baserunner before another single by Pettenger on the next at-bat would bring home the next, extending the hosts' lead to 6-0.
• The Black & Gold pushed their lead to 7-0 in the fourth frame on a home run past left centerfield by Rowe, her first of the season. The Lions would dwindle the lead to 7-1 in the seventh on a single of their own, but the Leopards held on for the win.
• In the circle, sophomore Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) led the way, striking out four and giving up six hits en route to her sixth win of the year. Freshman Brianna Miller (West Haven, Conn.) went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while Pettenger, Igawa, and Rowe all tallied two hits.

GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 4, EASTERN NAZARENE 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Lions took a 1-0 edge early in the first inning as a single by freshman Abby Stransbury (Warren, Ore.) drove home a runner. In the back half of the frame, Wentworth matched the score and took the lead as a double by junior Katie Kranz (Bedford, Mass.) with two runners on base brought both home, marking a 2-1 advantage for the hosts.
• With Pettenger on base, a double by Igawa in the fifth inning brought the graduate student home, extending the lead to 3-1, before Igawa scored on a passed ball on the next at-bat to push the lead to 4-1.
• Rowe earned the win in the circle, striking out eight batters and only giving up five hits. Offensively, Igawa led the way with two hits while Kranz led with 2 RBI.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the 43rd and 44th all-time meetings between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth faces Emmanuel Sunday morning.

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